Organization
KencocoLtd
Mission
The demand for energy in East Africa is increasing both for households, businesses and industry. Increasing populations, aggressive deforestation, expanding economies and lack of regulation have led to increasing fuel prices and shortages, which often hit hardest on households and businesses most in need. In Kenya, approximately 82% of the population cooks with biomass (wood and charcoal) leading to a high dependence on fuel wood and charcoal and continued loss of forested areas. Biomass briquettes offer an alternative fuel.
Organizational Expertise
Adoption / Behavior Change, Climate/Environment, Gender / Womens Empowerment, Livelihoods
Technologies & Fuels
Pellets / Briquettes
Clean Cooking Activities
Kencoco makes and sells charcoal briquettes from recycled agricultural coconut waste and charcoal dust. The charcoal briquettes are a viable low cost alternative to environmentally damaging fuels such as firewood, kerosene and wood charcoal. The company produces about 20 tons of briquettes every month from coconut shells, husks and other biomass materials which are abundantly available in the coastal regions of Kenya. Kencoco’s factory is located in Kikambala, Kilifi County.
Kencoco’s briquettes are packed in branded bags of 3kg, 5kg and 10 Kgs recycled paper for different customer segments. Currently, Kencoco’s customers are mainly households, restaurants, beach hotels and schools. 60% of his revenues are generated from the B2C business especially to kiosks and restaurants. At household level, more briquettes are bought by women because of the coastal cuisine whereby many of the women cook using charcoal. He also sells to B2B clients who make bulk orders especially to manufacturing companies. The company has engaged more women as suppliers of raw materials and sellers of charcoal briquettes in kiosks and roadside market.
Partnership
Kencoco’s charcoal briquettes are smokeless and have long burning and heating capacity and are far cheaper than wood charcoal and fire wood. The coconut charcoal briquettes serve the community with clean energy and contribute to deforestation. The product enable households achieve significant advantages such as access to clean energy which provide long lasting heat, are odourless, smokeless and have high heat combustion capabilities. In return, use of coconut briquettes, reduce cutting down of trees, improve health due to smokeless burning and offers waste management solutions by collecting and using coconut shells and husks as raw materials. Women are key player in the entire value chain from souring raw materials, to production process and retailing of the final product.
Regions Operating In
Sub-Saharan Africa
Country Based In
Kenya
Address
Kikambala
Mombasa Malindi Road
Kilifi County, Kenya 08100
Primary Point of Contact
Name: Mr. Said Twahir
Title: CEO
Email: twahirsaid@gmail.com
Phone: +254786263036
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